You will never come to a full knowledge of His Word unless you realize this important truth.
In this unique study, we are going to examine "symbolic names" and see what the Holy Spirit has to say through each one.
Our prayer is that your knowledge of the Word is greatly enhanced through this study.
"Today the selection of names may be based on a variety of considerations. A particular name may run in our family or belong to someone we admire. Rarely, though do our names make statements about who we really are. The situation was different in ancient Hebrew culture. Wilson explains, 'In Hebrew thought, the name of an individual was considered to be more than a title or a label for identification. Rather, a name was believed to reveal the essence, character, reputation, or destiny of the one to whom it was given...Thus the name of every Hebrew sent out some sort of message with it.' " - Doug Ward, "Nabal - The Ultimate Fool"
In this particular study, we are going to seriously examine the symbolism behind the "names" of "Ichabod" and "Nabal" and seek to discern what sort of message is given through each.
But before that, let's look at a few Biblical "names" and the "message" that was sent out with them.
In Genesis 4:25, we find Adam (after Cain killed Abel) naming his next son "Seth" - meaning "set, settled, or placed in his seed." By choosing this "name," you can see Adam's intention and determination to continue his seed to the end of time.
In Genesis 5:29, Lamech called his son's "name" "Noah" which signified "rest" and "consolation." He gave his son this particular "name" with the prospect of him being a more than ordinary blessing to their generation.
Due to Adam's sin, the earth was "cursed" by God. Lamech specifically felt that God would use "Noah" in some demonstrative way to bring alleviation "concerning their work and toil of their hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed." (Some commentators believe that "Noah" - through God's inspiration - invented tools that were instrumental in lessening the "load.")
In Genesis 21:3, we read that Abraham named his son that was born to Sarah - "Isaac." He chose this "name" because it was appointed by God. It was appointed by God because it meant - "laughter" - conveying to all that it was "Isaac's" birth that was laughed as impossible.
In Genesis 30:8, like so many others, we see that Rachel denominated her children from the occasion. With "wrestlings of God" and with "great" and hard "wrestlings" or strivings with her sister Leah, she named this child born to her handmaid Bilhah - "Naphtali" - which means "my struggle, my strife."
In Genesis 41:51, we find Joseph giving his children "names" which owned the Divine Providence giving a happy turn to his affairs. In naming his firstborn - "Manasseh" (meaning "God has made me forget") - he was relating how God had defaced the remembrance of all the hardships he had suffered from his brethren.
In Exodus 2:10, we find that Pharaoh's daughter named the child which she "drew out of the water" - "Moses." This "name" signified the manner in which he was found and rescued. Some commentators believe that "Moses'" original "name" given to him at circumcision may have been "Joachim."
In 1 Chronicles 4:9, we find that, at birth, "Jabez'" mother looked on him with forebodings and fears. Consequently, she left him with the dark and gloomy appellation - "Jabez" - which meant "sorrowful." This "name" was given in a moment of despondency and faithlessness and served as a standing memorial of her lack of confidence in God and misconception of things to come.
Lastly, in 1 Chronicles 22:9, we find God naming David's son - "Solomon" - which means "a man of rest, peaceable." This was a prophetic and purposeful "name" given by God for He would indeed "give Solomon rest from all his enemies round about" so that he could carry out the work of building the temple without distraction.
So far, we have seen that the "names" of "Seth," "Noah," "Isaac," "Naphtali," "Manasseh," "Moses," "Jabez" and "Solomon" did indeed "reveal the essence, character, reputation, or destiny of the one to whom it was given" or "sent out a special message" for each one.
Now, we come to the "name" - "Ichabod" - as mentioned in 1 Samuel 4:21-22. "Ichabod" was the grandson of Eli - the priest of the Lord in Shiloh - and the son of Phinehas - one of Eli's wayward sons along with Hophni his brother.
At the time of his birth, Israel was in battle with the Philistines. During this battle, "Ichabod's" father and uncle were killed, and the ark of the covenant was taken.
On hearing the news, his grandfather Eli fell from his seat backward, broke his neck, and died. His mother also - on hearing the dreadful news - went into labor. But before dying, she named him - "Ichabod" - meaning that "the glory has departed from Israel" because the ark of the covenant (symbolizing God's presence and glory) was captured.
In a sense, what this "name" was speaking to all was that God had left the nation - that He was no longer with His people to fight their battles. Israel was left desolate.
She named her child - "Ichabod" - meaning "there is no glory."
Why was this so tragic?
Because the "glory of God" denoted the visible manifestation of the Presence and Majesty of Jehovah. It described God's favor and blessings towards His people. It is what distinguished Israel from all of the other nations. They had God Almighty in the midst of them. Without the "glory," they became as one of the other nations.
It was a terrible thing to experience the loss of the "glory of God." It was tragic back then and still is today!
At the present, how many churches have lost the "glory" - have "Ichabod" written across their entrance? How many have become mega-churches - being nothing more than a corporation? How many leaders have become more loyal to man than God - looking for power, position, and possessions?
"Got Questions" offered this comment - "...one wonders how many churches today have lost the glory of the Lord, whether willingly or unknowingly. The same things that caused Ichabod in Israel - sin, disobedience, idolatry - are present in many of today's churches. Christians must never take the glory of God in our midst for granted, lest we wake up one day and find that Ichabod has become a reality among us."
Lastly, we come to the "name" - "Nabal" - as found in 1 Samuel 25. "Nabal" was a very wealthy property owner who had 1,000 goats and 3,000 sheep. We learn of him through his connection with David.
The background story is that David and his troops were fleeing from Saul when they found themselves near "Nabal's" flock during shearing season. Being low on supplies, David sent men to him to request food for himself and his needy troops. (He felt that "Nabal" was indebted to them for their services rendered since they were a "wall" - both night and day - unto his shepherds.)
What was "Nabal's" response?
He churlishly refused David's modest request.
The Scriptures offer an explanation for his actions - "but the man was churlish and evil in his doings" (1 Samuel 25:3); "for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him" (1 Samuel 25:17); "Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him..." (1 Samuel 25:25).
The name "Nabal" means - "fool, senseless."
Who would dare to name their child - "Nabal" - knowing this?
In fact, one study showed that out of the 5,838,786 records in the U.S. Social Security Administration public data, the first name "Nabal" was not present. Any surprise?
It is most likely that "Nabal" was not the birth "name" for the man mentioned in 1 Samuel 25. More than likely he was given that name to depict his character in his later years of life.
Several times, in the Scriptures, he was referred to as a "man of Belial." This describes one who knew not the Lord, served other gods, was self-centered, and his own god. No doubt, it was wealth and riches - and plenty of them - which caused such a "change" of character in this man who was a descendent of Caleb.
Sometime in his life, he took on the "name" of "Nabal" - meaning "a fool." He became stubborn, hardhearted, lawless, harsh, mean, bad-tempered, coarse-tongued, oppressive, materialistic, egocentric, and evil in his doings. There was a dark spirit within him that ruled over him. He refused to acknowledge a higher authority in his life as well as the rights of others.
Perhaps it all began when he forgot that he was a steward of the gifts with which God entrusted him and not the "owner" of his abundance. His overall selfish, and arrogant attitude - "...my bread, and my water, and my meat...my shearers..." (1 Samuel 25:11) - led him to the place where no one could talk to him because of the hardness of his heart. The "love of money" (1 Timothy 6:10) had totally corrupted his heart and took him to an early grave! It brought him to believe that he was above the law - even God's law! Oh, what a fool he was!
When a man does not care anymore about God's kingdom but is totally focused on his own, he has become a "fool."
Call him - "Nabal" - and then watch for his self-centered traits to manifest, such as: greed, covetousness, a hot-temper, a coarse-tongue, lawlessness, and unreasonableness.
What striking "message" do we get from the "names" of "Ichabod" and "Nabal"?
From both, we see what "sin" will do to both a nation or an individual. "Sin" caused Israel to lose the "glory of God" - which, in the first place, was what made them a great nation! And it was "sin" that caused "Nabal" to lose eveything in his life - including his eternal soul!
Whether in a nation or in an individual, "sin" will always reduce you to the state of a "fool."
As we have seen in this Bible Message, God speaks the language of symbols.
What is He saying to you today through these "symbolic names"?
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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